The Cleveland Cavaliers (13-38) visit the Sooner State to play the Oklahoma City Thunder (30-20) at the Chesapeake Energy Arena at 8:00 p.m. ET. We analyze Cavaliers-Thunder odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Cavaliers at Thunder: Key injuries
CAVALIERS
- PG Brandon Knight (knee) probable
- C Tristan Thompson (quadriceps) doubtful
- C Ante Zizic (illness) out
THUNDER
- SG Terrance Ferguson (personal reasons) probable
- SG Andre Roberson (knee) out
Cavaliers at Thunder: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Thunder 121, Cavaliers 104
Moneyline (ML)
PASS, PASS, PASS on a moneyline bet in Cavaliers-Thunder. Oklahoma City has won seven of its last eight, Cleveland has lost 11 of its last 12 and the Thunder have won five of the last six meetings between these two clubs. Cavs center Tristan Thompson (quadriceps) was downgraded to doubtful after not participating in the shootaround. I’d need Cavaliers +600 to be closer to +10000 to even think about wagering on them and Thunder -910 is an asinine NBA regular season bet.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
In the first Cavaliers-Thunder game this season, Kevin Love threw an on-court mini tantrum due to Collin Sexton not entering the ball to him when he had Chris Paul in the post.
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This is emblematic of these two teams this season. The backcourts are a huge mismatch, so much so that the young Cavaliers’ guards don’t know how to get their team into advantageous offense. The opposite is true of Paul and the Thunder, who’s going directly into the Hall of Fame following his career partially based on his rep as Point God and knowing exactly how to work the gears of his team’s offense.
But, here are some trendy reasons to BET THUNDER -13.5 (-106):
- The Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in the last six games against the Thunder and are 1-3 ATS in their last four overall games.
- Oklahoma City has the best against the spread record in the NBA, 34-16, and Cleveland is near the bottom with a 21-29-1 ATS record.
- The Cavaliers have a 3-10 ATS record in away games against teams above .500 and the Thunder are 7-5 ATS at home versus sub .500 teams.
Again, BET THUNDER -13.5 (-106).
Over/Under (O/U)
I LEAN OVER 219.5 (-115) because we’re laying a big number to bet the Thunder, and it’s a lot to ask a team to cover 13.5 and the game go under 219.5. Oklahoma City has 14-11 over/under record at home and Cleveland has a 14-10 O/U record on the road. The Cavaliers allow 114.1 points per game on the road and the Thunder actually allow more points at home then on the road (110 PPG at home and 105.8 PPG on the road). Also, Cavaliers-Thunder have a combined 18-13 O/U record against non-conference opponents.
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